Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's testimony regarding noise exposure and hearing protection during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are caused by his service-connected conditions, and the claim for a compensable rating for a right knee scar is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the period on appeal. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there is no causal connection between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The evidence does not show continuity of symptomatology or a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The right ear hearing loss claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a genitourinary disability, including erectile dysfunction, penile skin nodule, and status-post prostate cancer. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss since January 12, 2018 was denied as his left ear hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent (noncompensable). The VA examinations showed the Veteran had Level VII hearing in his left ear and Level I hearing in his right ear. These ratings are consistent with the criteria set forth in the rating schedule.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for an assessment of his employability in light of service-connected disabilities prior to March 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such disability.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, neck disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis are all denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis.

Your appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as you have withdrawn the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability. The claims for chronic left knee pain, chronic right knee pain, left foot plantar fasciitis, and hypertension are remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence addressing their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability was received on June 15, 2023. The Board found that the increase in disability did not occur within a year prior to this date and thus denied the request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and hearing loss due to missing intent to file forms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading to the grant of a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss, migraines/headaches, neck/cervical pain, sleep apnea, vertigo, and urethritis. The remaining issues of service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 2, 2008. The Board granted TDIU based on the evidence showing his disabilities prevent him from participating in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 2, 2017 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU from January 25, 2010, due to his service-connected disabilities.